Love on the Turquoise Land

Yan Tuo had stayed up late the previous night and slept until nearly eleven the next day.

He didn’t wake up naturally—he was jolted awake by loud banging on the door. The moment he startled awake, a cold sweat broke out on his back, and his first thought was: Damn, has it been exposed?

Only then did he recognize Lü Xian’s voice: “Yan Tuo, Yan Tuo? Dead asleep? You’ll turn into a pig at this rate.”

Yan Tuo exhaled deeply and got out of bed to open the door for Lü Xian. If this kept up, he’d develop a nervous breakdown sooner or later.

The door swung open, and Lü Xian’s fist nearly missed, almost sending him stumbling into the room.

He steadied himself and even adjusted his clothes. “What’s wrong with you? Sleeping this late?”

Yan Tuo yawned. “Watched some movies, stayed up late.”

Lü Xian barged in with an aggressive air. “You know why I’m here, right? Borrowing someone’s car and not returning it—turning into a deadbeat, huh? And my phone! Do you know I’m stuck using an iPhone 6 right now? A 6 ! They’re already up to the 12, and I’m still on 6!”

Pretty damn ‘6’ indeed. Good thing he’d taken care of things last night.

Yan Tuo gestured to the new phone bag on the sofa. “Didn’t forget. And isn’t your car downstairs? That piece of junk—you think I’d keep it?”

A new phone?!

Lü Xian’s eyes lit up, and he let out an excited yelp as he rushed over, not even bothering to retort.

Yan Tuo took the opportunity to sit down in the computer chair, watching Lü Xian gleefully unbox and test the phone. He also noticed that Lü Xian was dressed unusually formally today.

He smirked. “Wearing a tie, huh? And is that hair gel?”

Lü Xian didn’t even look up. “Meeting my goddess—gotta dress up.”

“When’s the meeting?”

“Already happened. You think everyone sleeps till noon like you?”

Damn, already?

If Lin Xirou had sought out Lü Xian, it was probably to play matchmaker—trying to pair him up with Lin Ling. If he was this excited after the meeting… did that mean it worked?

He cautiously probed, “So… did you agree?”

The moment he brought it up, Lü Xian’s temper flared. “Yan Tuo, you’re such an asshole. You knew about this all along and didn’t give me a heads-up. Man, pairing me up with Lin Ling—so awkward, you know? Zero mental preparation.”

Yan Tuo couldn’t care less about his discomfort. “So, did you agree or not?”

Lü Xian leaned back on the sofa, crossing his legs with a flourish. “We’re in a new socialist era now. You rich folks really think you can buy the love of an upright man like me with money?”

Can you speak like a normal human being? Yan Tuo rubbed his temples.

Lü Xian rambled on, “At first, I thought about being polite, but then I realized—no, gotta nip it in the bud. So I told your aunt straight up: ‘Feelings are about chemistry. So much in this world is already tainted, but at least my love should be a choice from the heart—’”

Yan Tuo had no patience for his grand speech. “What about Aunt Lin? How did she take it? Not happy, right?”

“Not at all,” Lü Xian scoffed, shooting him a disdainful look. “My goddess was… completely stunned. She probably never expected me to be such a man of principle. Honestly, I think I’ve caught her attention…”

Yan Tuo had too many thoughts to voice. He stood up and strode over, looming over Lü Xian. “Lü Xian!”Lü Xian sprawled on the long sofa with his arms stretched wide across the backrest, legs propped up as he looked at Yan Tuo. "So what's up?"

Yan Tuo chose his words carefully, keeping his tone mild. "Even if you don't like Lin Ling, you should agree for now and go along with Aunt Lin's wishes. Understand?"

Lü Xian didn't understand. "Why?"

His gaze at Yan Tuo gradually turned knowing. "I get it. Lin Xirou and Lin Ling share the same surname—they're closer. 'Fertile water shouldn't flow to outsiders.' Your aunt wants you to date Lin Ling to strengthen family ties, but you're unwilling and pushing her onto me instead, right?"

Yan Tuo was speechless. Why was everyone he met these days so fond of wild speculation?

"Nice move, Yan Tuo. Shifting the conflict like that is pretty low. 'Better you than me,' huh? I can't believe I fell for it!"

With a snort, he grabbed his new phone and stood up. "Only because of this phone will I let it slide. I'm busy—tomorrow I'm going to the farm with my goddess for a work inspection..."

The word "farm" sent a jolt through Yan Tuo. "Why are you going to the farm?"

Lü Xian shot him a look. "What's with that expression? It's perfectly normal. Since the farm's in the countryside with lots of staff, they need better medical support. I'm evaluating their current clinic and making upgrade and staffing recommendations."

As he tried to leave, Yan Tuo blocked his path.

Lü Xian eyed him warily. "What scheme are you cooking up now?"

Yan Tuo lowered his voice, expression serious. "Lü Xian, I mean it. Next time you see Aunt Lin, tell her you've reconsidered and are willing to give Lin Ling a chance—this is important. Worst case, you date for a while and break up. No loss for you."

Seeing Yan Tuo wasn't joking, Lü Xian frowned. "But why?"

Yan Tuo dodged the question. "Have I ever screwed you over? Just trust me on this. It saves face for everyone, including you." He emphasized the last point.

Lü Xian grew uneasy, nervously licking his lips.

—Yan Tuo rarely acted like this.

—Looking back, Yan Tuo had never deceived him.

—Though he called her "goddess," he wasn't close to Lin Xirou—far less than with Yan Tuo. So... trust the familiar face?

Lü Xian hesitated. "But going back on my word... that's hard to say."

Yan Tuo relaxed. "It's not going back on your word—it's careful reconsideration."

After dealing with Lü Xian, Yan Tuo went to find Lin Xirou.

From a distance, he saw Xiong Hei leaving her room. Yan Tuo instinctively read his expression: Xiong Hei's eyes were narrowed in disdain.

Likely nothing had happened—or at least, nothing detrimental to him.

Yan Tuo greeted him. "Brother Xiong."

Startled by the sudden encounter, Xiong Hei immediately recalled last night and grew uncomfortable. Yet seeing Yan Tuo composed, without a trace of embarrassment over exposed secrets, he couldn't help but sigh. The internet aphorism was right: if you don't feel awkward, the awkwardness shifts to others.

Yan Tuo studied his eyes. "Didn't sleep well? All bloodshot. Were you waiting for Feng Mi to finish her task last night?"

At the mention of Feng Mi, Xiong Hei bristled. "That woman's a nutjob. Kept me up half the night insisting some taxi was suspicious."Yan Tuo smiled, "Went to check the vehicles, huh?"

"Exactly. Checked both cars and people, even pulled up the traffic surveillance footage after they left the city," Xiong Hei let out a big yawn, tears welling up in his eyes. "Turned out to be a whole lot of nothing."

The surveillance footage outside the city was segmented by road sections, as only major routes had cameras. This meant vehicles could disappear from one road and reappear on another later. In the first few segments, two cars could be seen speeding one after the other, which was somewhat suspicious. However, since traffic enforcement was laxer in rural areas, many drivers tended to speed once they left the city. More importantly, the taxi soon reappeared in another segment's footage. Based on the distance, it had been moving continuously without stopping. Chen Fu's car, on the other hand, had vanished completely.

They also tracked down the taxi driver. When called, he recalled after a long pause, "That day, I was heading to the countryside in a bad mood. Another car tried to overtake me, and I raced with it for a while... Later, that car fell behind and disappeared. I picked up a passenger and turned back to the city."

That was the gist of it. After summarizing, Xiong Hei asked Yan Tuo, "Don’t you think this woman is deliberately making trouble for me?"

Yan Tuo replied, "You can’t say that. She’s just thorough and doesn’t overlook any suspicious details."

Xiong Hei was exasperated. "You’re really Aunt Lin’s protégé, talking just like her."

Yan Tuo frowned. "This is tricky. How are we supposed to find it now?"

Xiong Hei snorted. "In Aunt Lin’s eyes, nothing’s tricky."

Lowering his voice, he pointed toward Lin Xirou’s door. "She said to use the most labor-intensive method: start from the last road where the car was seen and comb through every side road, every direction, inch by inch, like a carpet search. So, you see, the higher-ups just talk, and the underlings break their legs running around—it’s not like she has to do the work. A Peng and his crew are gonna be exhausted."

He shrugged, his face full of disdain, then sauntered off.

Yan Tuo stood there for a moment.

It was indeed the most tedious method, but it would yield results. At the very least, that well pump house wouldn’t stay hidden for long.

Lost in thought, he suddenly heard Lin Xirou’s voice: "Xiao Tuo."

Turning, he saw Lin Xirou, as impeccably polished as ever. Her aesthetic was that of a high-society lady, but her naturally striking features allowed her to pull off even the most challenging outfits—florals, velvet, mink, you name it.

She wore a simple-cut pearl mink cropped jacket over a lightweight, form-fitting cashmere dress, sheer stockings, and ankle-high suede boots studded with diamonds.

Yan Tuo grinned. "Aunt Lin, all dressed up—going out?"

Lin Xirou smiled back. "Yes. I’ll be busy at the farm tomorrow, so I’m taking Lin Ling shopping for clothes while I have half a day free. She’s about to start dating; she ought to dress up a bit. Want to join us?"

About to start dating...

So, Lü Xian’s opinion didn’t matter at all.

Yan Tuo begged off. "No thanks, Aunt Lin. Your shopping style would bore me to death. Oh, by the way, I’ll be away for a few days."

"What for?"

"It’s year-end. A lot of partners have sent invitations—thank-you banquets, annual parties. I can’t attend all of them, but I should show up for one or two of the important ones."Lin Xirou understood that handling such formalities had always been Yan Tuo's responsibility.

She nodded slightly, then sighed with emotion, murmuring to herself, "Another year has passed."

Yan Tuo glanced at her.

Yes, another year had gone by.

Nie Jiuluo woke up early in the morning. The night before, Yan Tuo had told her he would come to take her home.

The thought of going home was always a happy one.

By the time Yan Tuo arrived, she was already dressed and ready. Out of sheer boredom, she had even hobbled back and forth across the living room several times with her crutch.

That’s right—she had specifically bought a crutch, and not just any crutch, but a non-slip, four-legged elderly walking stick.

When Yan Tuo pushed the door open and came face-to-face with her, he was instantly stunned by her eclectic fashion sense.

She wore white cotton socks, slippers, and pajamas—the slippers and pajamas were a matching set he had bought, adorned with cute patterns on the toes and clothes. That alone wouldn’t have been so bad, but since one arm was in a sling, she couldn’t wear a proper top and had to drape a coat over herself. She had chosen a sleek, imposing black overcoat, and to complete the look, she was leaning on an elderly walking stick.

Yan Tuo: "You’re going out like this?"

She was an artist, after all. How could she let herself look this disheveled?

Nie Jiuluo: "I’m a patient. Did you expect me to strut around in high heels and a tight dress?"

Fair point.

Yan Tuo checked her luggage: a travel bag and a… suitcase.

The suitcase—the one used to transport Chen Fu—was his.

Important conversations could wait until they were on the road. Yan Tuo carried the suitcase downstairs first, while Liu Changxi helped with the travel bag. On the way down, Liu wore a worried expression: "Xiao Tuo, you should talk some sense into Miss Nie. She bought so many small appliances these past few days and now says she doesn’t want any of them. Young girls don’t understand the hardships of managing a household—they shouldn’t be so wasteful."

Yan Tuo replied, "That’s just how she is. You can keep them. Appliances shouldn’t sit unused for too long anyway."

When he went back upstairs, it was time to fetch Nie Jiuluo.

The housekeeper had also finished packing. Having cared for Nie Jiuluo, she came downstairs to see her off. As she wiped her hands on her apron, she suddenly remembered something: "Miss Nie, why don’t you take one last look around the room? Make sure you haven’t left anything behind."

That made sense. Nie Jiuluo walked to the door of the room she had stayed in and peered inside.

For the past few days, she had complained about the place—the cramped space, the poor lighting, the outdated decor, and the musty smell of an old apartment. But now that she was really leaving, she felt unexpectedly reluctant to go.

After scanning the room, she did spot something. Nie Jiuluo pointed to the bedside table: "That, please grab it for me."

The housekeeper hurried over, retrieved the item, and handed it to her. Nie Jiuluo took it, then turned and held it up for Liu Changxi to see: "Uncle Changxi, can I take this?"

Liu Changxi quickly nodded. "Take it. It was bought for you anyway."

Curious, Yan Tuo leaned over to see what it was.

Well, of course—a board game.

No doubt she planned to torment some unsuspecting soul with it.

...

The four of them descended the stairs in pairs—Yan Tuo and Liu Changxi in front, the housekeeper supporting Nie Jiuluo behind.

As Yan Tuo reached the last flight of stairs, a cold gust of wind hit him. The neighborhood was old, and so was the building—there was no lobby door at the bottom. Bicycles were lined up from the stairwell all the way outside.

Instinctively, he turned around.Nie Jiuluo had just reached the stairwell and was about to turn the corner when she saw Yan Tuo raise a hand in front of her. Before she could react, he had already gathered the open flaps of her coat and fastened a single button with one hand, saying, "It's windy. Don't leave it open."

The coat looked stylish when left open, but buttoned up, it seemed a bit frumpy—especially since Yan Tuo had done it hastily, just to block the wind, and had even mismatched the button and buttonhole.

Nie Jiuluo glanced down at the button, then back at Yan Tuo.

He had already gone downstairs.

The housekeeper nearby chuckled and remarked wistfully, "Out of all the households I've worked for, your partner treats you the best."

Nie Jiuluo didn’t respond. As she turned the corner, a cold gust of wind hit her face. Wrapped tightly in the coat, she felt constrained, her movements awkward and cumbersome.

In that moment, she felt like a warm yet clumsy bucket, bundled up in the oversized coat.